183 Smartphone features you may not be aware of

This list was generated by AI (ChatGPT) and could contain errors.

 

1. Find My or Find Hub: Locate, ring, lock or erase a missing phone. Google now calls its service Find Hub, though many phones and users still refer to it as Find My Device.
2. Make a silenced phone ring: Especially useful when the phone is under a cushion somewhere at home.
3. Lost Mode: Lock a missing phone and display contact information for whoever finds it.
4. Stolen Device Protection on iPhone: Adds safeguards against someone who has both your phone and passcode.
5. Theft protection on Android: Supported phones can automatically lock under suspicious circumstances.
6. Automatic operating-system updates: Install important security patches and bug fixes. Apple recently warned that outdated iPhones could be vulnerable to web-based attacks.
7. Automatic app updates: Apps need security fixes too.
8. Face or fingerprint unlocking: Faster and generally safer than entering a passcode in public.
9. Biometric sign-in for apps: Useful for banking, health, password-manager and shopping apps.
10. A stronger passcode: Replace a four-digit PIN with six digits or a longer password.
11. SIM PIN or carrier account PIN: Helps protect against unauthorized access to your cellular account.
12. Passkeys: Sign in to participating services with your face, fingerprint or device passcode instead of a conventional password.
13. Password manager: Both platforms can generate, save and fill strong passwords.
14. Security and privacy dashboard: Android collects important security, update, app-permission and Find Hub information in one area.
15. Play Protect on Android: Scans apps for potentially harmful behavior.
16. Safety Check on iPhone: Review who can see your location and other information, or quickly stop sharing it.

Emergency and personal safety

17. Emergency SOS: Quickly call emergency services by pressing the phone’s buttons.
18. Emergency contacts: Notify selected people after an emergency call.
19. Medical ID or emergency information: Make medications, allergies, conditions and emergency contacts available from the lock screen. On iPhone, Medical ID can also be shared with emergency responders in supported areas.
20. Emergency location sharing: Send your current location to emergency contacts.
21. Satellite emergency communication: Some newer phones can contact emergency services when cellular and Wi-Fi service are unavailable.
22. Crash detection: Supported phones can detect a serious vehicle crash and offer to call for help.
23. Fall-related safety features: Some phones and connected watches can help summon assistance after a fall.
24. Check In or safety check timers: Tell a trusted person when you arrive or alert them if you fail to check in.
25. Emergency recording on some Android phones: Record video during an emergency and share it with selected contacts.
26. Severe weather, earthquake and public-safety alerts: Make sure government emergency alerts have not been disabled.

Backups and recovery

27. Automatic device backup: Protect settings, app data, messages and other information.
28. Photo and video backup: Confirm that iCloud Photos or Google Photos is actually syncing.
29. Check the date of the last successful backup: “Backup enabled” does not necessarily mean the latest backup worked.
30. Cloud-storage warnings: A full account can stop new backups and photo uploads.
31. Access photos from another device: View or download backed-up photos through iCloud or Google Photos.
32. Restore a new phone from the old one: Transfer apps, accounts, settings and data during setup.
33. Recovery contacts or recovery keys: Help regain access if you forget your account password.
34. Account contact information: Verify that your recovery email address and phone number are current.

Privacy

35. Location permissions: Change apps from “Always” to “While Using” when constant tracking is unnecessary.
36. Precise versus approximate location: Many apps need your general area but not your exact position.
37. Camera and microphone permissions: Remove access from apps that no longer need it.
38. Photo access: Give an app access to selected pictures rather than your entire library.
39. Contacts permission: Some apps ask for every contact even though they need only one.
40. Local network permission: Review which apps can scan or connect to devices on your home network.
41. Bluetooth access: Disable it for apps that have no legitimate reason to find nearby devices.
42. Clipboard warnings: Phones can alert you when an app accesses something you copied.
43. Lock-screen notification previews: Hide message content until the phone recognizes you.
44. Tracking and personalized-ad controls: Limit cross-app tracking where available.
45. App Privacy Report on iPhone: See how often apps access sensitive data and which internet domains they contact.
46. Privacy Dashboard on Android: Review recent use of the camera, microphone, location and other permissions.
47. Safety Check on iPhone: Particularly important for anyone who may need to stop sharing information with another person quickly.
48. Automatic deletion of old location or activity records: Review retention settings in your Apple or Google account.

Calls, messages and scams

49. Spam-call identification: Warns when an incoming call is suspected spam.
50. Call screening: Available on supported Android phones to ask callers why they are calling before you answer.
51. Silence unknown callers: Useful, but it can also hide legitimate calls from doctors, delivery drivers or businesses.
52. Spam-text filtering: Separates suspected junk messages.
53. Report junk or block sender: Helps prevent repeated scams and harassment.
54. Wi-Fi Calling: Allows calls through Wi-Fi where cellular coverage is weak.
55. Live voicemail or call transcription: Read what a caller is saying before deciding whether to answer.
56. Hold assistance: Some Android phones can wait on hold and alert you when a person returns.
57. Real-time text during calls: Lets users type and read text during a phone conversation, where supported.
58. Message scheduling: Write a text now and send it at a specified time.
59. Undo or edit messages: Available for certain messaging services, with limits.
60. Emergency bypass: Permit calls from selected people even when Do Not Disturb is active.

Battery and charging

61. Battery health: Check whether an aging battery is reducing performance or capacity.
62. Optimized or adaptive charging: Reduces the time the phone remains fully charged, which may slow battery aging.
63. Charging limit: Some phones can normally stop charging at 80 or 90 percent.
64. Low Power or Battery Saver mode: Extends use when you cannot recharge.
65. Battery-usage report: Identify apps consuming excessive power.
66. Background activity controls: Limit apps that continue running when you are not using them.
67. Always-on display settings: Disable or schedule the display if it consumes more power than you want.
68. Adaptive brightness: Automatically adjusts the display to surrounding light.
69. Dark mode: Can save some power on phones with OLED displays and may be easier on the eyes.

Notifications and focus

70. Notification controls for each app: Turn off promotional alerts while keeping important ones.
71. Notification summaries: Group less urgent notifications for delivery at chosen times.
72. Focus or Do Not Disturb modes: Allow only selected people and apps to interrupt you.
73. Driving mode: Reduce distractions while driving.
74. Sleep mode: Quiet alerts and simplify the lock screen at bedtime.
75. Notification history on Android: Retrieve alerts you dismissed accidentally.
76. Time-sensitive notifications: Permit truly urgent alerts through a Focus mode.
77. Flash notifications: Blink the camera light or screen for calls and alerts.
78. Sound recognition or Sound Notifications: Alert you to a smoke alarm, doorbell, baby crying or another important sound. Android documents alerts for significant surrounding sounds, and Apple offers related recognition tools.

Navigation and travel

79. Google Maps Live View: Use the camera and augmented reality to help determine which way to start walking.
80. Apple immersive walking directions: Overlay walking guidance on the camera view where available.
81. Offline maps: Download an area before traveling somewhere with limited cellular service.
82. Saved parking location: Record where you parked.
83. Share estimated arrival time: Let someone follow your progress without repeatedly texting.
84. Location sharing: Temporarily share your position with family or friends.
85. Transit departure alerts: Receive reminders when it is time to get off a bus or train.
86. Avoid tolls, highways or ferries: Customize route preferences.
87. Compass calibration: Improve walking orientation when the map points the wrong way.
88. Downloadable languages for translation: Translate text or speech without an internet connection.
89. Digital boarding passes and tickets: Store them in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
90. Travel eSIMs: Add a temporary cellular plan without replacing a physical SIM.

Camera and photos

91. Scan documents: The built-in camera or Notes-related tools can create readable multipage PDFs.
92. Copy text from a picture: Apple’s Live Text can select, copy, translate and search text seen by the camera.
93. Google Lens or equivalent visual search: Identify objects, products, plants, landmarks and text.
94. Translate signs and menus through the camera.
95. Search photos by person, object, place or text: Try searches such as “dog,” “passport,” “receipt” or “Hawaii.”
96. Duplicate-photo detection: Find and merge repeated pictures.
97. Hidden or locked photo albums: Protect sensitive pictures.
98. Remove location data before sharing a photo: Avoid revealing where it was taken.
99. Photo cleanup or object removal: Remove distracting objects on supported devices.
100. Portrait adjustments after taking the picture: Change focus or background blur on supported phones.
101. Burst mode: Capture several rapid images of movement.
102. Volume button as shutter: Easier than tapping the screen in many situations.
103. Grid and level: Help straighten horizons and improve composition.
104. QR-code scanning: Usually works directly from the camera without a separate app.
105. Magnifier: Enlarge restaurant menus, labels and other small print. Apple highlights the iPhone’s built-in magnifying and recognition tools among its accessibility features.

Accessibility features useful to almost everyone

106. Larger text and display scaling: Make menus and apps easier to read.
107. Magnification or screen zoom: Enlarge only the part of the screen you need.
108. Live Caption: Add captions to videos, podcasts and, on supported phones, calls.
109. Live Transcribe: Turn nearby spoken conversation into text on Android.
110. Sound Amplifier: Make speech or surrounding audio easier to hear through headphones.
111. Read selected text or the entire screen aloud: Useful for long articles, small print or tired eyes.
112. Voice Control or Voice Access: Operate the phone largely through spoken commands.
113. Screen readers: VoiceOver on iPhone and TalkBack on Android describe what is on the screen.
114. Hearing-aid compatibility: Stream calls and media to supported hearing aids.
115. Mono audio and left-right balance: Helpful when hearing differs between ears.
116. Reduce motion: Minimize animated screen effects that can bother some people.
117. Color filters and increased contrast: Improve readability and color differentiation.
118. AssistiveTouch on iPhone: Put commonly used hardware controls into an onscreen menu.
119. Accessibility Shortcut: Triple-click the iPhone’s side button to activate selected accessibility tools.
120. Android accessibility shortcuts and Quick Settings tiles: Make features such as Live Transcribe quickly available.
121. Sound recognition: Receive an alert when the phone hears specific sounds.
122. Background sounds: Play steady rain, ocean or noise sounds to mask distractions.
123. One-handed mode: Pull controls within easier reach on a large phone.
124. Keyboard haptics: Provide gentle feedback when typing.
125. Reduce loud sounds or headphone safety warnings: Protect against prolonged high-volume listening.

Everyday productivity

126. Voice typing: Dictate emails, messages and notes.
127. Swipe typing: Type by sliding a finger across letters.
128. Text replacement: Create shortcuts for your address, email or frequently used phrases.
129. Scan text directly into a document: Point the camera at printed text and insert it.
130. Built-in document signing: Sign PDFs without printing them.
131. Markup: Add arrows, circles, text and signatures to screenshots or documents.
132. Full-page screenshots: Capture an entire webpage or document rather than only the visible portion.
133. Screen recording: Record what is happening on the screen, often with narration.
134. Copy and paste between devices: Supported within Apple and some Android or Windows ecosystems.
135. Nearby file sharing: AirDrop on Apple devices and Quick Share on Android and compatible computers.
136. Universal clipboard: Copy on one device and paste on another, where supported.
137. Split-screen multitasking: Use two apps simultaneously on many Android phones.
138. Picture-in-picture: Continue watching video or a video call while using another app.
139. App shortcuts: Press and hold an app icon to jump directly to frequent actions.
140. Home-screen widgets: Display weather, calendars, batteries, reminders and other information without opening an app.
141. Customizable Control Center or Quick Settings: Put your most-used controls within one swipe.
142. Back Tap on iPhone: Double- or triple-tap the back of the phone to trigger a selected action.
143. Quick Tap on supported Android phones: Tap the back to take a screenshot or launch another action.
144. Customizable Action button on supported iPhones: Assign it to the camera, flashlight, Focus mode, a shortcut or another function.
145. Clipboard history on some Android keyboards: Retrieve more than the most recently copied item.
146. Pinned clipboard items: Save frequently pasted text.
147. Measure and level tools: Estimate dimensions and determine whether something is level.
148. Calculator history and unit conversion: Available on some built-in calculator apps.
149. Reminders based on location: Receive a reminder when arriving at or leaving a place.
150. Shared notes and lists: Collaborate on shopping lists, travel plans or household tasks.

Storage, data and connectivity

151. Storage recommendations: Identify large files, unused apps and downloaded media.
152. Offload unused apps on iPhone: Remove the app while preserving its data.
153. Archive unused apps on Android: Free space without discarding all associated information.
154. Data Saver or Low Data Mode: Reduce cellular-data consumption.
155. Per-app cellular-data controls: Prevent specific apps from using mobile data.
156. Personal hotspot: Share your phone’s internet connection with a computer or tablet.
157. Hotspot password and device limits: Keep strangers from using your connection.
158. Wi-Fi password sharing: Share access without reading the password aloud.
159. Saved Wi-Fi password viewing: Retrieve a password for another device.
160. Private Wi-Fi address or MAC randomization: Reduce tracking across Wi-Fi networks.
161. Secure DNS or Private DNS: Add privacy and sometimes improve protection against malicious sites.
162. NFC tap-to-pay: Use Apple Pay or Google Wallet without handing over a physical card.
163. Digital car, home or hotel keys: Available with participating vehicles, locks and hotels.
164. Battery sharing or reverse wireless charging: Some Android phones can charge earbuds or another phone.
165. USB-C accessories and external displays: Some phones can connect to storage, microphones, monitors and other peripherals.

Health and digital well-being

166. Screen Time or Digital Wellbeing: See how much time you spend in each app.
167. App timers: Limit social media, games or other distracting apps.
168. Bedtime reminders and sleep schedules: Reduce late-night phone use.
169. Night Shift, Night Light or blue-light reduction: Warm the display in the evening.
170. Medication reminders: Record medications and receive scheduled prompts.
171. Health-data sharing: Share selected health information with a family member or clinician.
172. Walking steadiness and mobility information: Available on supported iPhones and connected wearables.
173. Headphone-level monitoring: Warn about potentially harmful listening levels.
174. Mental-health or mood logging: Available in some health apps.
175. Focus reminders and breathing exercises: Built into some phones or connected watches.

Family and household features

176. Family location sharing: See participating relatives on a map.
177. Parental controls: Set content limits, app restrictions, purchase approvals and downtime.
178. Communication safety features: Warn about or restrict certain sensitive content on supported systems.
179. Family purchase sharing: Share eligible apps and subscriptions.
180. Legacy contact or inactive account planning: Specify who may access selected account information after your death.
181. Shared photo libraries or albums: Automatically collect family pictures in one place.
182. Home and smart-device controls from the lock screen or Quick Settings.
183. Guest or secondary-user mode on some Android phones: Let another person use the device without seeing all your data.